DURHAM have been challenged to win three of their last four matches to wrap up a third County Championship in four years.

As they found out against Nottinghamshire this week, the weather alone makes it a tough ask.

They were kicking themselves because only 12.2 overs were possible on day three. It allowed Notts to wriggle off the hook yesterday and scramble a draw.

But with four teams all in with a realistic chance of the title, coach Geoff Cook has set his sights high.

“(Third-placed) Somerset have got three home games left and are playing some really good cricket, so games like this we could have really done with winning to give ourselves a cushion,” he said.

“Out of the remaining four games left, I think we’ve got to win four, which will be a tough ask but the team’s playing really well in all forms of cricket.” Ian Blackwell’s 26 from 11 balls, replacing Paul Collingwood (53) after the all-rounder suffered back spasms – let Durham declare on 181-3.

It set Notts 272 to win from 58 overs.

Durham were frustrated by Adam Voges’ 68 not out, which made Graham Onions’ first-innings 6-95 in vain.

“At lunchtime we were talking about 255 or something like that, but Ian Blackwell accidentally really went out to bat and had a big over which tipped the final total a bit higher,” said Cook.

There was some good news yesterday – Collingwood has signed a three-year contract.

Cook said: “There was speculation Derbyshire had approached him but we were very keen getting him on board with Durham as long as he was happy playing his cricket. That was always the stipulation right from day one when he started playing as a non-England player.”